Split Power Tool Housing with Interlocking Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electrically driven power tool housings lack adequate strength, particularly in battery-powered tools, due to complexities in assembling electronic components, and existing designs may not provide sufficient structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A split housing construction with a substructure and reinforcing superstructure, featuring radially inward ribs and grooves for interlocking, along with a tubular substructure and a superstructure that applies axial and radial forces to secure the housing halves together, enhancing the tool's structural integrity and allowing for improved assembly of electronic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a one-piece tubular housing is used to bolster strength, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complexities in assembling electronic components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing strengthVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple segments: a one-piece tubular substructure providing structural strength, and separate superstructure components (housing halves, end caps, internal brackets) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows electronic components to be assembled within the modular framework, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining the strength benefits of the tubular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If a one-piece tubular housing is used to bolster strength, then structural strength is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing system is segmented into a tubular substructure and separate superstructure components. The substructure can be manufactured using processes optimized for tubular forms, while superstructure components can be manufactured using different processes suited to their specific geometries and functional requirements, improving overall manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The superstructure components (housing halves, end caps, internal brackets) are designed to combine with the tubular substructure to form an integrated housing system. This merging allows each component to be manufactured separately with optimized processes, then assembled into a complete housing that provides the required strength and facilitates electronic component assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If housing strength is increased through structural modifications, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidhousing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into a load-bearing tubular substructure and functional superstructure components. This segmentation concentrates structural integrity requirements on the substructure, which is optimized for strength, while the superstructure components can be simpler in design, reducing overall housing complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing system combines different material forms and structures: the tubular substructure provides a rigid framework, while the superstructure components (including internal brackets and end caps) add localized reinforcement and functional features. This composite approach achieves high structural integrity without requiring the entire housing to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2888081B1Power tool housing construction
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 INGERSOLL RAND IND US INC
  • EP2888081B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2888081B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed including a motor housing structured to receive at least a portion of an electric motor, a tool housing including a first half and a second half, wherein the tool housing defines an end taper, a tool attachment in mechanical communication with the electric motor, and a retention member including an inner taper structured to interface with the end taper of the tool housing to resist relative motion between the tool housing and the motor housing.